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|work=Private Eye 1232
|work=Private Eye 1232
|location =London}}</ref>
|location =London}}</ref>
Tracey Brown, managing director of Sense About Science, responded to these claims in a rebuttal on the SAS website.<ref>{{cite web
Tracey Brown, managing director of Sense About Science, responded to these claims on the SAS website.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Response from Tracey Brown, Managing Director of Sense About Science, to the THE article by Zoe Corbyn "Charity guide criticised for not declaring GM interests: Sense About Science pamphlet failed to list contributors’ links with industry".
|title=Response from Tracey Brown, Managing Director of Sense About Science, to the THE article by Zoe Corbyn "Charity guide criticised for not declaring GM interests: Sense About Science pamphlet failed to list contributors’ links with industry".
|date=31 March 2009
|date=31 March 2009
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|work=The Guardian
|work=The Guardian
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|location =London}}</ref>
Claims of an 'LM network' have been denied.<ref>{{cite news|
Claims of an 'LM network' have been denied.{{fact}}<ref>{{cite news|
url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=193769&sectioncode=26
url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=193769&sectioncode=26
|title=What's a nice Trot doing in a place like this?|
|title=What's a nice Trot doing in a place like this?|
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|work=Times Higher Education|location =London}}</ref>
|work=Times Higher Education|location =London}}</ref>


Homeopath [[Peter Fisher (physician)|Peter Fisher]] criticised Sense About Science, who have been working closely with [[NHS primary care trust]]s on the issue of funding for homeopathy, for being funded by the pharmaceutical industry; SAS responded in a statement to [[Channel 4 News]] that "Peter Fisher's desperate comments show about as much grasp of reality as the homeopathic medicine he sells."<ref>{{cite news|
Homeopath [[Peter Fisher (physician)|Peter Fisher]] criticised Sense About Science, who have been working closely with [[NHS primary care trust]]s on the issue of funding for homeopathy, for being funded by the pharmaceutical industry;{{fact}} SAS responded in a statement to [[Channel 4 News]] that "Peter Fisher's desperate comments show about as much grasp of reality as the homeopathic medicine he sells."<ref>{{cite news|
url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/uncomplementary+homeopathy/831062
url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/health/uncomplementary+homeopathy/831062
|title=Uncomplementary Homeopathy
|title=Uncomplementary Homeopathy

Revision as of 07:58, 19 August 2009

Sense About Science
Company typeCharitable Trust No.110111
GenrePublic relations, Science
FoundedLondon 2003
FounderLord Taverne
Headquarters
London
,
England
Area served
England And Wales
Revenue£198,243 (2008) Decrease 15% from 2007
Number of employees
10 (2017, 2020) Edit this on Wikidata
Websitehttp://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk
Footnotes / references
Board of Trustees (2009)

Lord Taverne (Chair)
Professor Dame Bridget Ogilvie
Professor Janet Bainbridge
Dr Michael Fitzpatrick
Ms Diana Garnham
Professor Sir Brian Heap
Professor Chris Leaver
Dr Peter Marsh
Lady O’Neill
Dr Christie Peacock

Dr Simon Singh

Sense About Science is a British charity that promotes the public understanding of science. SAS was conceived in 2002 by Lord Taverne, Bridget Ogilvie and others to promote respect for scientific evidence and good science. Sense About Science was established as a charitable trust in 2003, with 14 trustees, an advisory council and a small office staff. As of 2009, the managing director is Tracey Brown.

Sense About Science aims to work with scientists, journalists, and others to ensure that scientific evidence is at the forefront of public discussions about science, and to correct unscientific misinformation.[1] They encourage and assist scientists to engage in public debates about their area of expertise, to respond to scientifically inaccurate claims in the media, to help people contact scientists with appropriate expertise, and to prepare briefings about the scientific background to issues of public concern.

Reports and campaign statements released by Sense About Science have generated significant press coverage.[2]

Projects

The Trust maintains EvidenceBase, a database of over 2,000 UK scientists willing to use their expertise to help inform public debate. It also runs the Voice of Young Science programme to help early career scientists engage in public debates. Sense About Science hosts an annual lecture and publishes an ad hoc series of reports under the title of Sense About... and Making Sense of….[3]

Since its founding, Sense About Science has contributed to UK public debates about such subjects as alternative medicine,[4] "detoxification" products and detox diets,[5] genetically modified food,[6] avian influenza,[7] chemicals and health,[8] "electrosmog",[9] vaccination,[10] weather and climate,[11] nuclear power,[12] and the use and utility of peer review.[13] SAS encourages scientists to explain to the public the value of peer review in determining which reports should be taken seriously. Director Tracey Brown describes such critical thinking as crucial to preventing public health scares based on unpublished information.[14]

Supported causes

File:Sas-libel-2.png
One of Sense About Science's prominent campaigns has been in favour of Simon Singh, sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association.[15]

The Trust actively campaigns in support of various causes. It has issued a statement signed by over 35 scientists[16] asking the WHO to condemn homeopathy for diseases such as HIV.[17]

It has also launched a campaign[15] in defense of a member of its board of trustees,[18] author and journalist Simon Singh, who has been sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association. They have issued a statement entitled "The law has no place in scientific disputes",[19] which has been signed by many people representing science, medicine, journalism, publishing, arts, humanities, entertainment, skeptics, campaign groups and law. As of 27 July 2009, over 15,000 have signed.[20] Many press sources have covered the issue.[21]

Reception

Sense About Science and their publications have been cited a number of times in the popular press,[22][23] most notably for encouraging celebrities and the public to think critically about scientific claims,[24][25] criticizing marketing unsupported by research,[26][27][28] decrying the unsubstantiated claims of homeopathy,[29][30] supporting genetically modified crops,[31] criticising 'do-it-yourself' health testing,[32][33] denouncing detox products,[34][35] warning against 'miracle cures',[36][37] and promoting public understanding of peer review.[38] They have received positive coverage in publications from the Royal Society[39] and the U.S. National Science Foundation,[40] and in the writings of scientists such as Ben Goldacre[41] and Steven Novella.[42]

Lord Taverne, chairman of Sense About Science, has criticised campaigns to ban plastic bags as counter-productive and being based on "bad science".[43] Sense About Science organised a climate change conference,[11] which resulted in stories warning against the exaggeration and 'Hollywoodisation' of climate change.[44] This coverage was criticised by Media Lens, which claims that Sense About Science is influenced by climate change denialists.[45]

Anti-genetic-modification campaigners and academics have criticised Sense About Science for what they view as a failure to disclose industry connections of some advisers,[46] and Private Eye reported that it had seen a draft of the Making Sense of GM guide that included Monsanto Company's former director of scientific affairs as an author.[47] Tracey Brown, managing director of Sense About Science, responded to these claims on the SAS website.[48]

Journalist George Monbiot has commented on the connections Tracey Brown, assistant director Ellen Raphael and others working with Sense About Science have with the former Revolutionary Communist Party and Living Marxism magazine.[49] Claims of an 'LM network' have been denied.[citation needed][50]

Homeopath Peter Fisher criticised Sense About Science, who have been working closely with NHS primary care trusts on the issue of funding for homeopathy, for being funded by the pharmaceutical industry;[citation needed] SAS responded in a statement to Channel 4 News that "Peter Fisher's desperate comments show about as much grasp of reality as the homeopathic medicine he sells."[51]

Funding

For the fiscal year ending 5 April 2008, the trust received £145,902 in donations.[52] Disclosed corporate donations comprised £88,000 with pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca donating £35,000.[52] Other contributing pharmaceutical companies include Dupont and Pfizer.[49]

References

  1. ^ [http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/about/147 SaS Voice of Young Science workshop, "Ellen Raphael talked about Sense about Science, discussing projects and the ways we correct misinformation with examples from the last five years."
  2. ^ Press coverage of Homeopathy project
  3. ^ Sense about Science: Publications
  4. ^ Alternative Medicine
  5. ^ Detox
  6. ^ Making Sense of GM
  7. ^ Bird Flu
  8. ^ Making Sense of Chemical Stories
  9. ^ Radiation
  10. ^ MMR Vaccines
  11. ^ a b Weather and Climate
  12. ^ Nuclear Information Library
  13. ^ Peer Review
  14. ^ Butler, Declan (2004). "Academics seek to cast peer review as a public service". Nature. 430 (6995): 7. doi:10.1038/430007b.
  15. ^ a b Sign up now to keep the libel laws out of science! Sense About Science
  16. ^ Letter to WHO, signed by at least 35 scientists, Sense About Science
  17. ^ Sample, Ian (1 June 2009)."British scientists ask WHO to condemn homeopathy for diseases such as HIV". The Guardian (London).
  18. ^ Board of Trustees, Sense About Science.
  19. ^ "The law has no place in scientific disputes", Sense about Science.
  20. ^ The campaign at a glance
  21. ^ Press Coverage
  22. ^ Brown, Tracey (25 November 2005). "Making Sense of Science". The Scientist.
  23. ^ "OFT: Chocolate does not help you lose weight". The Daily Telegraph. London. 20 February 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  24. ^ Jha, Alokh (3 January 2008). "Evil genes and antifreeze: TV gurus' toxic talk put under the microscope". The Guardian. London.
  25. ^ Henderson, Mark (3 January 2007). "Celebrities told to embrace the facts, not bad science". The Times. London.
  26. ^ Fazackerley, Anna (4 November 2005). "Scientists told to enlighten the confused". Times Higher Education. London.
  27. ^ Randerson, James (10 October 2007). "Food and health firms taken to task by science's 'warriors against claptrap'". The Guardian. London.
  28. ^ "Prince Charles detox 'quackery'". BBC News Online. London. 10 March 2009.
  29. ^ "Scientists attack homeopathy move". BBC News Online. 25 October 2006. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  30. ^ "Homeopaths under fire over tropical treatments". New Scientist. London. 22 July 2006. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  31. ^ Henderson, Mark (21 March 2009). "Why we need GM crops". The Times. London.
  32. ^ Fleming, Nic (16 March 2008). "Do-it-yourself test kits 'could put health at risk'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  33. ^ "Disease forecasts may be bad for your health". New Scientist. London. 18 March 2008.
  34. ^ "Scientists dismiss 'detox myth'". BBC News Online. 5 January 2009.
  35. ^ Kirby, Jane (5 January 2009). "Products offering an easy detox 'are a waste of time'". The Independent. London.
  36. ^ Rayner, Tom (10 November 2008). "Warning over online 'miracle cures'". The Independent. London.
  37. ^ Moore, Matthew (10 November 2008). "Patients warned over online 'miracle cure' claims". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  38. ^ "Peer review key to trust in science". Times Higher Education. London. 25 June 2004. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  39. ^ "Science in the News - Wednesday 10 October 2007". Science in the News. London: Royal Society. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  40. ^ National Science Foundation (official report) (2006). "Science and Technology: Public Attitudes and Understanding". Science and engineering indicators 2006. Arlington, Va., U.S.A.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  41. ^ Ben Goldacre's BadScience.net "Sense About Science have very kindly given me the transcripts from their excellent Malaria and homeopathy sting from last month"
  42. ^ Novella, Steven (10 November 2008). "Sense About Science". Neurologica. The New England Skeptical Society. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  43. ^ Mostrous, Alexi (8 March 2008). "Series of blunders turned the plastic bag into global villain". The Times. London.
  44. ^ Jowit, Juliette (18 March 2007). "Don't exaggerate climate dangers, scientists warn". The Observer. London.
  45. ^ "Channel 4's climate swindle - the distortions continue". Media Lens. 21 March 2007.
  46. ^ Corbyn, Zoë (19 February 2009). "Charity guide criticised for not declaring GM interests". Times Higher Education. London. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  47. ^ "Books and Bookmen". Private Eye 1232. London. 20 March 2009.
  48. ^ Tracey Brown (31 March 2009). "Response from Tracey Brown, Managing Director of Sense About Science, to the THE article by Zoe Corbyn "Charity guide criticised for not declaring GM interests: Sense About Science pamphlet failed to list contributors' links with industry"".
  49. ^ a b Monbiot, George (9 December 2003). "Invasion of the entryists". The Guardian. London.
  50. ^ Bunting, Chris (28 January 2005). "What's a nice Trot doing in a place like this?". Times Higher Education. London.
  51. ^ MacDonald, Victoria (21 September 2007). "Uncomplementary Homeopathy". Channel 4 News. London.
  52. ^ a b "Sense About Science Financial Statements", Charity Commission.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sense_about_Science&oldid=308841765"